- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Sydney Roosters have had to readjust the rear view mirror after Canberra and St George Illawarra joined Brisbane in the chase for the last spot in the NRL top four.
More NRL
Ryles and Gasnier farewell in style
Raiders’ hopes rising but numbers dropping
The Roosters (30 points) have lost two in a row and now have three sides hot on their tail in the race to secure a home final.
Brisbane (29), Canberra (28) and the Dragons (28) all have a better points difference than the Roosters with two rounds left.
Should the boys from Bondi slip up against South Sydney on Friday night, they could find themselves as low as seventh when they host the surging Dragons in the last round.
“We can definitely go past them,” said St George Illawarra coach Nathan Brown after his side thrashed the New Zealand Warriors 34-6 in Wollongong today.
“The good thing is we can put ourselves in a position if we keep winning, we don’t have to rely on anyone else losing really.”
Given the form the Roosters have displayed recently, you could almost bank on another loss as their attack has lost direction and penetration.
Just a fortnight ago they appeared some chance of overhauling Melbourne, Manly and Cronulla in the race for the minor premiership.
It now appears a spot somewhere in the lower reaches of the top eight will have to suffice as the Sea Eagles and Sharks have shot ahead of the chasing pack.
The Storm can regain top spot with a win over Penrith tomorrow night in the first of a horror run home for the Panthers that also includes games against the Warriors and Manly as they look to stay in touch with the top eight.
The Roosters, Broncos, Raiders and Dragons all now figure to be there somewhere in the finals, which leaves Newcastle, Parramatta, the Warriors and Panthers battling it out for one place in the eight.
Injuries will play a large part.
The Knights are almost certain to be without skipper Danny Buderus after the departing veteran suffered what looked to be a serious biceps injury on Saturday night.
Newcastle have called a press conference for tomorrow afternoon when it is expected they will announce Buderus has played for the final time in the NRL before taking up a two-year deal with Leeds.
The Raiders, meanwhile, added another couple of names to their casualty ward today.
Halfback Marc Herbert (knee) and prop Troy Thompson (Achilles) suffered season-ending injuries in the 40-25 win over Souths – a double blow sure to dent their top four hopes.
Skipper Alan Tongue said securing a home final wasn’t the motivation behind his side’s brilliant end of season form.
“We haven’t talked about beyond this weekend,” Tongue said.
“We’ll do the same again next week, we’ve got to reassess our injuries and we’ve shown all year that we play for each other no matter what we’ve gone through and that will be the case again next week.”
Snapshot of round 24 of the NRL
THEY SAID IT: “This is three years in a row this has happened in the last month and we’re finishing about the same, 10 or 11 wins, we can’t get past that. We’re going to have to move some players on, simple as that.” Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens vows heads will roll after the loss to Manly effectively ended the 2005 premiers’ season.
STAT THAT MATTERS: 694 points. That’s how many the Bulldogs have now conceded in 2008, making them the worst-ever defensive side in the proud 74-year history of the club.
MAN OF THE ROUND: Darren Lockyer overcame illness to produced a trademark piece of brilliance to give Brisbane a thrilling golden-point win over Gold Coast. Lockyer set for a field goal with two minutes left in the first period of extra time, only to jink, pass, regather and send Clint Eastwood strolling over for the match-winning try.
MAGIC MOMENT: Mark Gasnier left a lasting impression at WIN Stadium with a brilliant behind-the-back flick pass to set up Jason Nightingale’s try in St George Illawarra’s win over the Warriors. It was his last piece of play at the Wollongong ground before his move to French rugby union next year.
TALKING POINT: Danny Buderus’s NRL career almost certainly came to a premature end when he tore the biceps in his right arm in the Knights’ win over North Queensland. It’s hardly a fitting farewell for the veteran hooker, who is one of rugby league toughest and most-respected players.
JUDICIARY WATCH: Bulldogs forward Brad Morrin placed on report for a high tackle on Parramatta’s Jarryd Hayne.
KEY INJURIES: Danny Buderus (Knights) – biceps, Luke Williamson (Sea Eagles) – hamstring, Marc Herbert (Raiders) – medial ligament, Troy Thompson (Raiders) – Achilles, Ricky Thorby (Dragons) ribs, Preston Campbell (Titans) jaw.
UNDER PRESSURE: After suffering three successive losses for the first time in charge of the Sydney Roosters, Brad Fittler needs to do something quickly to reverse his side’s worrying form slump. The Roosters are still in fourth spot but have Brisbane, Canberra and St George Illawarra breathing down their necks with two rounds to go.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.